Why did you choose this field of work/job?

I first started working as a nurse where I often worked directly with patients, helping to treat them for many conditions that were caused by the environment around us. When searching for my next career move, I found the environmental health degree at university where I could work on the forefront in the community and prevent many of the illnesses I was treating. This drive to prevent harm from happening and have a bigger impact on community health is what made me want to pursue a career as an environmental health officer.

What tasks does your job include? What do you love about your job the most?

As an environmental health officer, I work to keep my community safe and healthy. My role involves monitoring and managing environmental health risks, conducting inspections, enforcing public health laws and regulations and educating people on things like safe food handling and mosquito control. Other interesting things I can do in my job are monitoring noise at music venues, monitoring the air quality, working with the Defence Force and much more!

What excites me most about environmental health is that each day is different and the role is constantly evolving. I enjoy working with like-minded people who have the same passion to protect the community from what are often hidden hazards.

As an environmental health new graduate, a standout experience was travelling through the Scenic Rim for routine mosquito surveillance. This fieldwork provided vital data on mosquito populations to help predict and prevent disease outbreaks, plus there was the added bonus of working outdoors and seeing some incredible locations.

What was your study journey to get this job?

In high school I had no idea what I wanted to do. I studied a lot of trade subjects, like furnishing and metal work, and also sport. Studying these subjects helped shape my pathway towards a job that is hands on but also academic too. But it was only after school and working different jobs that I decided to pursue a career in health care.

I actually started my career as an enrolled nurse before deciding to study a Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Environmental Health. I first studied a Diploma of Nursing which gave me an adult entry ranking to then enter university. This was a great pathway as I learned a lot of relevant health information and skills and knew I always had a job to fall back on. Not rushing into university straight out of school gave me the chance to experience life and work out what I wanted to do before making any big decisions.

Study in environmental health involved a wide variety of subjects required for the job like anatomy, chemistry, microbiology, infectious diseases and regulatory/law studies. The degree also included field work and experience with key industry bodies and potential future employers. This time of my study journey was enjoyable and set me up with a broad academic basis that underpins the wide variety of tasks I do in my career today.

What are your future plans for work and study?

As an environmental health officer, it’s important to keep my skills and knowledge up to date so I’m always learning. After my degree, I did extra studies to expand my knowledge and skills, including a Certificate IV in Government Investigations. I am about to start training to become an authorised food safety auditor.

In the medium to long term, I’d like to move into more demanding and complex roles and take on some leadership responsibility.

I would also really like to do more advanced study, like a Masters or PhD in environmental health and do some research to contribute to the profession.

What is one thing about your study and/or job that you would love to share with people considering this career?

There is so much variety and such a wide range of career opportunities available in public health and environmental health. My advice for anyone considering a career in health or environmental health is to just go for it! You won’t get bored and will always be learning.

If you enjoy a mixture of indoor and outdoor work with a lot of diversity and job satisfaction, environmental health will be a rewarding career for you.